Call to Manchester’s financial services industry to embrace diversity

Dame Helena Morrissey has today urged financial services businesses across Manchester to pledge that they will work harder at achieving diversity.

Altrincham-born Helena is chair of the Diversity Project Diverse City, the initiative created to raise funds to improve equality of opportunity across the investment and savings industry.

The Diversity Project is working on a series of six events across the UK designed to raise around £2m to support charities who were affected by the revelations following the infamous President’s Club dinner in London’s Dorchester Hotel this January, which host Jonny Gould boasted was “the most un-PC event of the year”.

Speaking ahead of a Diverse City charity fundraiser in Manchester next week, co-sponsored by EY and Together, Helena Morrissey said: “Manchester is one of the most influential financial centres in the UK, and has the potential to lead the charge in the promotion of fairness and equal opportunities across financial services, accelerating progress towards an inclusive culture within our industry to benefit our clients, members, employers and shareholders.

“We thank the sponsors and supporters who have already pledged to help the Diverse City initiative, look forward to working with them to improve equality of opportunity, not only in Manchester, but across the UK, and encourage others to get involved.”

The event, which has already been endorsed by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, will be fundraising for youth homelessness charity Centrepoint, which helps homeless young people across Manchester to build a future.

EY and Together are co-sponsoring the Manchester Diverse City, dinner. The Co-operative Bank has now also been confirmed as a Community Partner.

Steve Robb, head of financial services for the North at EY, said: “At EY, we believe that harnessing diversity of thought, cultural experiences and skills is not only the right thing to do, but also makes good business sense, and ensures we attract and retain the very best talent.

“That’s why we are proud to be part of a project which is striving to ensure greater diversity in financial services across the Northern Powerhouse.”

Chris Baguley, commercial director at Cheadle-based finance specialist Together, said: “For financial services to truly succeed, it’s essential that we have a diverse and inclusive industry.

“Colleagues at Together come from a variety of backgrounds, which allows us to see things differently, and we love people who can add real value through their varied experience.

“Together are proud to be supporting the Diverse City event and we call upon our peers to do likewise.”

The Diverse City Manchester dinner is one of five events taking place across the UK to raise money to support charities affected by revelations following the President’s Club Dinner and scandal.

Hosted by comedian Deborah Stephenson, the Manchester gala dinner will take place on October 10, at the Lowry Theatre, Salford.

Dame Helena began her career at the New York and London bond desks at Schroders.

She moved to Newton Investment Management in the early 1990s as a fixed income fund manager, and became Newton’s chief executive. As of 2015, it managed £47bn of assets.

She is also head of personal investing at Legal & General Investment Management, which has more than £894bn of assets under management.